Derek shut his eyes wearily and cussed under his breath as he heard the voice he hadn’t heard in seven years. Fisting his hands tightly, he inhaled and exhaled slowly before turning to face his oldest friend turned foe.

  “Maya…” he grumbled, unfolding one hand and slipping it into the deep left pocket of his denim trousers while he stared at the feminine beauty standing before him. She looked the same—just older, sharper, even more beautiful.

  “Hello, Cousin Brother…” Maya said with a smirk. “How have you been? Long time no see.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

  From the curve of that smirk, Derek could tell she was part of her father’s schemes—again. It soured his mood even more.

  He had once hoped she would turn out different from Arnold. He had always had a soft spot for her… until her actions seven years ago. Now he told himself he loathed her.

  “Yeah. I’ve been fine. How about you?” he replied at last, matching her sarcasm with practiced ease.

  “Never been better,” she said, stepping close and wrapping him in a bear hug.

  He froze.

  Her scent—wild forest, familiar and warm—hit him instantly, dragging him back to a time when she had always embraced him during his worst moments, whether caused by his father or hers.

  Her arms, her stubborn loyalty, her presence… they had been some of the only things that made his childhood feel bearable. She had even learned to make pancakes for him whenever his mother wasn’t home.

  For a moment, he wanted to return the hug. A moment. Then the memory of her betrayal slammed into him again.

  Whatever she was doing here, whatever she planned, it was his duty to stop it—whether his father liked it or not.

  “Let’s get along fine, Cousin,” she whispered before pulling away.

  He had to fight the instinct to pull her back when she smiled up at him.

  Eight years ago, he would have done anything to earn one of her warm smiles. Now, looking at his beautiful cousin, all he could think was that there was something cold, something dangerous, beneath that smile.

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  So he hid his own thoughts behind one of his own—thin, controlled, fake.

  “Yeah, sure. We have a lot of catching up to do,” he finally said, forcing the smile to hold.

  Maya kept hers in place as she stopped herself from hugging him again. She had missed him—deeply.

  When her father told her they were traveling to the Black Moon Pack for a treaty, she had been thrilled at the idea of seeing her favorite person after so many years.

  He was grown now, she noted silently, eyes sweeping over the beard, the added height, the ponytail.

  She had been only two when Aunt Melvina went into labor with him. Her own mother had given birth to her baby brother just two weeks earlier. Maya had been excited—another baby to play with.

  She’d wished for a girl, since she already had a brother, but her disappointment had vanished the moment she saw him swaddled in soft cloth. He’d been the tiniest, most beautiful creature she had ever seen.

  They grew up inseparable. She had protected him—even from her own father. She never understood Arnold’s hatred for him, but she knew it existed. When she learned her father had nearly killed Derek during pack training, she confronted him despite the two hot slaps that ended the argument.

  But everything changed seven years ago. She had betrayed him. Forced, yes—but still a betrayal. The guilt had eaten at her ever since. And now, she was about to do it again.

  Her father hadn’t dragged their pack here for a simple merger. She knew it. She also knew she was just a pawn—again.

  “Maya!”

  Her father’s voice cut through the pack link.

  She cursed silently. What does he want now? Isn’t she playing her part?

  She thought of all the years she’d hidden her true feelings to please him—even at the cost of those she loved.

  “Get your mind back in the game. What are you thinking about?” Arnold snapped through the link.

  “I’m sorry, Father.”

  “Sorry for yourself. Stop spacing out and show him the pack members,” he ordered before shutting their connection.

  Maya sighed and looked at Derek for what felt like the hundredth time. He was watching her—studying her—as if trying to piece together her intentions.

  She wished they could return to the closeness they once shared, but the thought only made her smile bitterly. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

  Folding her arms, she steeled herself, slipping back into the stance of a villain. Whatever she truly felt didn’t matter anymore. They could never be what they were.

  “Let’s go, Cousin Brother,” she said at last, sarcasm and smirk returning like armor. “I think you would love to see my pack warriors.”